Skate Keith 29 minutes and hope he is on his A game
- fattybeef

It worked before...........

- Beaver-Warrior

Jake!

Disagree.

The Hawks got back into both the Vancouver series in 2011 and the Phoenix series last year when they stopped letting themselves get checked out of the building.

Much harder to get to 16 victories in the postseason with a track team than a balanced skill/pop team. Much harder. Look at the teams that win it, year after year.

Like it or not, Carcillo and Bollig could get some TOI in the playoffs. Not to fight, but to hit some people.
- John Jaeckel

They better or we'll be renamed the Chicago Baryshnikovs.

Yeah. Neither 52 or 13 has played a lot and more to the point, neither has made a difference or been a factor in games.

The most you can say for either is that they haven't been massive liabilities in their limited time on ice.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement when constructing a playoff lineup.
- AceRatbang

On the contrary...I'd suggest that Bollig has fired up the opposition on several occasions by starting idiotic staged fights that slowed the game down and shifted momentum the other way.

Philadelphia Flyers traded Dan Hamhuis to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 3rd round selection in 2010.

But think bigger....the rights to Stalberg and a IceDog to a team that can use both speed and depth competition....


Oh, and many of the games Bollig dressed were diretcly related to injuries at forward?
- wiz1901

Dunno but he threw some hits, played his wing reasonably well and was one of few Hawks to get a puck past Mike Smith as I recall.

On the contrary...I'd suggest that Bollig has fired up the opposition on several occasions by starting idiotic staged fights that slowed the game down and shifted momentum the other way.
- ArlingtonRob

He has 4 sure. AND...he has to, absolutely has to...pick his spots better. Enforcing for a young guy with limited talent is tough. He's got to do his job, but be smart about it. PHUCKING TIGHTROPE.

Hey, do I wish the Hawks had Cam Neely and Milan Lucic? Or even Troy Brouwer and Ben Eager (circa 2010)? Yes.

But they don't. If they just blaze past everyone all the way tot he Cup, no one will be happier than I will.

But I still see a team that struggles against a physical forecheck and can be checked hard into timid play up and down the ice. And their power play doesn't exactly make opponents pay for misdeeds.

All I'm saying is, like them or not, Bollig and/or Carcillo could have roles with this team in certain part of the playoffs.

We have deserved the hate.Most of it is generated from years past but there is still some.

I am surprised too about the team this year.I thought we were a lot weaker than what we are. But even after a rough start we are still # 6 in the league. That was with some big injuries. Everything is starting to fall in place now and people are getting back from injuries.

The PP is starting to come around .The thing about the Canucks is they are bigger this year than most teams realize.We can be just as big and mean as the Kings and the Blues and have matched up well against them this year.

I think if we meet again this year some Hawk fans might be in for a surprise.
- VANTEL

Yes, the hate is deserved. 6th in the league isn't hard when you play Calgary, Edm, Avs.... Let' see where you are next year in a real division.

You are stronger up the middle with Roy and the Hawks lack the snarl they had in 10 to respond to the Nucks constant cheap shots. Upsets are always possible.

Regardless, your organization (thanks to Gillis) is in serious decline and will fade away over the next few years. No cap space, few prospects... should be fun to watch. Gillis completely blew the Luongo situation.

Best thing for VC would be can Gillis and AV and retool/deTOOL - lose the whole diving, dirty mentality and return to the Linden days when you had some class.

Really funny if Gillis get fired and replaced by Burke!

In going along with your thought here, I'm of the opinion that the typical numerical hierarchy may not apply for this team. If Q is going to roll 4 lines fairly equally, the traditional line roles don't really apply. People shouldn't get worked up with Bolland playing on the "fourth line" or being the fourth center, especially if Q uses Bolland's line as his stopper line. Say Q leaves Handzus between Vik and Bick because he likes what they have rolling and puts Bolland between Fro and Kruger/Shaw/Bollig, does it really matter if Bolland is called the third or fourth line center?

Use Bolland's line for "zero shifts" against the other team's top line like Q has for the past playoff runs. If it makes people feel better, call that line the third line and call the 29/26/25 line the fourth line...in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter what the numerology is on the depth chart, just how Q uses them.
- PhatJoeSki

I agree with this 100% I'm sure people with their infatuation with size will say you can't have such a small checking line, but while shaw and frolik aren't the size of ladd, they are still gritty enough. Who did Bolland play with last year a lot? Bickell and shaw and then fro. Bickell isn't that physical, either

I like what Carcillo brings, but given what Saad brings in terms of successful hockey grinding, Shaw's style of play (which is a better hockey version of Carcillo), The arrival of Handzus, and the percieved need for Frolik in the lineup to kill penalties... I just can't think of someone I'd rather keep out of the lineup, in order to get him in.

Philadelphia Flyers traded Dan Hamhuis to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 3rd round selection in 2010.

But think bigger....the rights to Stalberg and a IceDog to a team that can use both speed and depth competition....


Oh, and many of the games Bollig dressed were diretcly related to injuries at forward?
- wiz1901

Great idea! Would love to see that happen if they do not sign him (which they probably will not).

Stalberg and Pirri to Buffalo for one of those several 2nd or 3rd rounders they collected would be nice.

Hey, do I wish the Hawks had Cam Neely and Milan Lucic? Or even Troy Brouwer and Ben Eager (circa 2010)? Yes.

But they don't. If they just blaze past everyone all the way tot he Cup, no one will be happier than I will.

But I still see a team that struggles against a physical forecheck and can be checked hard into timid play up and down the ice. And their power play doesn't exactly make opponents pay for misdeeds.

All I'm saying is, like them or not, Bollig and/or Carcillo could have roles with this team in certain part of the playoffs.
- John Jaeckel

Totally agree. If people could not see the difference role players had in that VC series in 11 they weren't watching. It's not about fighting in the PO. It's hitting and presence.

Hey, do I wish the Hawks had Cam Neely and Milan Lucic? Or even Troy Brouwer and Ben Eager (circa 2010)? Yes.

But they don't. If they just blaze past everyone all the way tot he Cup, no one will be happier than I will.

But I still see a team that struggles against a physical forecheck and can be checked hard into timid play up and down the ice. And their power play doesn't exactly make opponents pay for misdeeds.

All I'm saying is, like them or not, Bollig and/or Carcillo could have roles with this team in certain part of the playoffs.
- John Jaeckel

Ben Eager circa 2013 is crap.

Great idea! Would love to see that happen if they do not sign him (which they probably will not).

Stalberg and Pirri to Buffalo for one of those several 2nd or 3rd rounders they collected would be nice.
- tredbrta

I still think Stalberg ends up in San Jose, his rights may be traded elsewhere after the season but I think Doug will make him a big offer.

I still think Stalberg ends up in San Jose, his rights may be traded elsewhere after the season but I think Doug will make him a big offer.
- DarthKane

Maybe Doug is the one who ends up trading for his rights?

Maybe Doug is the one who ends up trading for his rights?
- EKolb13

Certainly a possibility. But if Stan has multiple suitors I'm sure he'll want to trade Stalberg's rights to a team in the Eastern Conference. But then again Dougie is not afraid to overpay if he wants somebody.

Carcillo isn't a top 6 forward in this league. He isn't paid like one and he isn't given ice time like one.

He played that role with Hossa and Kane last year... a strong 2 way forward who can't be knocked off the puck and the best playmaker in the league. Throw any veteran who can skate decently on that lne and they'll look like they belong.

Also and perhaps more importantly, last years team did not have the depth that this years team has.
- AceRatbang

I'm sorry but Kane is not the best playmaker in the league. And your opinion on Stalberg possessing the puck but not doing anything with it is wrong. The last three years the best puck possession team won the Cup, so its pretty important. And everyone saying he can't finish, he scored 22 goals last year playing 3rd line minutes with no PP time. He's no Corey Perry but he can score, and will for someone else after this year

Certainly a possibility. But if Stan has multiple suitors I'm sure he'll want to trade Stalberg's rights to a team in the Eastern Conference. But then again Dougie is not afraid to overpay if he wants somebody.
- DarthKane

Don't forget, realignment makes the Pacific Coast teams just like the rest of the Eastern Conference. You'll only seem them for two games in the regular season and not again until the Conference Finals.

In essence, San Jose is just like an Eastern Conference team after this season.

I'm sorry but Kane is not the best playmaker in the league. And your opinion on Stalberg possessing the puck but not doing anything with it is wrong. The last three years the best puck possession team won the Cup, so its pretty important. And everyone saying he can't finish, he scored 22 goals last year playing 3rd line minutes with no PP time. He's no Corey Perry but he can score, and will for someone else after this year
- rollpards19

Frolik had two 20 goal seasons in Florida. What happened there?

Just because Stalberg put up a 20 goal season doesn't mean that he'll do it again. It possible that he could, but there is no guarantee.

Corey Perry has hands. Stalberg, not so much.

I'm sorry but Kane is not the best playmaker in the league. And your opinion on Stalberg possessing the puck but not doing anything with it is wrong. The last three years the best puck possession team won the Cup, so its pretty important. And everyone saying he can't finish, he scored 22 goals last year playing 3rd line minutes with no PP time. He's no Corey Perry but he can score, and will for someone else after this year
- rollpards19

I'd put Kane up there with St. Louis, Crosby and Datsyuk in play making ability. If Kane played in Tampa he might have twice the assists.

It's all about the system.... and, sometimes, the hangover.

We have deserved the hate.Most of it is generated from years past but there is still some.

I am surprised too about the team this year.I thought we were a lot weaker than what we are. But even after a rough start we are still # 6 in the league. That was with some big injuries. Everything is starting to fall in place now and people are getting back from injuries.

The PP is starting to come around .The thing about the Canucks is they are bigger this year than most teams realize.We can be just as big and mean as the Kings and the Blues and have matched up well against them this year.

I think if we meet again this year some Hawk fans might be in for a surprise.

- VANTEL

Surprised they were so easy to sweep? Is that what you mean? No way the Nucks win a series against Chi town. Let's try to keep things in perspective here. Chicago is doing the whole best team in the league thing in a much tougher divison. Canucks play in arguably the weakest division in the West, and maybe in the NHL for that matter. Not trying to say Vancouver isn't good, but they are not in the same class as Chicago.

Don't forget, realignment makes the Pacific Coast teams just like the rest of the Eastern Conference. You'll only seem them for two games in the regular season and not again until the Conference Finals.

In essence, San Jose is just like an Eastern Conference team after this season.
- EKolb13

I hope we develop some interesting rivalries with minn and dal.. The nashville one has always bored me and winnipeg doesnt excite me. boo blues (I guess) until another rival develops.

Surprised they were so easy to sweep? Is that what you mean? No way the Nucks win a series against Chi town. Let's try to keep things in perspective here. Chicago is doing the whole best team in the league thing in a much tougher divison. Canucks play in arguably the weakest division in the West, and maybe in the NHL for that matter. Not trying to say Vancouver isn't good, but they are not in the same class as Chicago.
- MnGump

It's okay to say that Vancouver is not a good team. In fact, we here prefer that you say they suck.

It's kind of a prerequisite here.

On the contrary...I'd suggest that Bollig has fired up the opposition on several occasions by starting idiotic staged fights that slowed the game down and shifted momentum the other way.
- ArlingtonRob

Been way better lately though

I hope we develop some interesting rivalries with minn and dal.. The nashville one has always bored me and winnipeg doesnt excite me. boo blues (I guess) until another rival develops.
- miked23

I can see the old Minny/Chitown rivalry getting reignited. Wild should be a better team next season. Doubt it will be as intense as it was back in the days of the Norris divison, but I'm betting it will be good.